Mediators urge Hamas toward positive response to Trump peace plan Sources tell Axios

Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye are pressing Hamas to respond positively to President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza, according to two sources familiar with the ongoing talks, quoted by Axios.

The three countries, which serve as the main intermediaries with Hamas and have the closest ties to the group, are also the primary channels for passing messages between Hamas, Israel, and the United States. Senior officials from these nations have already met with Hamas leaders twice in the last 24 hours in an effort to advance the negotiations.

Trump, speaking on September 30 before hundreds of generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia, said he is giving Hamas three to four days to respond to his plan.

“We have one signature that we need, and that signature will pay in hell if they don't sign. I hope they sign for their own good and create something really great,” he declared. Both US and Israeli officials believe Hamas is likely to give a broadly positive reply to the proposal, though with some reservations.

On the night of September 29, as Trump unveiled his plan publicly, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad presented the details to Hamas leaders in Doha, a source with direct knowledge said. During that meeting, both officials urged Hamas to accept the terms. 

Al Thani told the group that this was the best deal he could secure for them and cautioned that no better offer would be forthcoming. He also emphasised that, based on his personal discussions with Trump, he was convinced the US president was seriously committed to ending the conflict — a pledge that should serve as sufficient assurance for Hamas. Hamas leaders, in turn, said they would study the proposal “in good faith.”

The following day, Al Thani and Rashad again met Hamas officials in Doha, this time joined by Turkish intelligence director İbrahim Kalın. Ahead of the talks, Al Thani told Al-Jazeera that he hoped “everyone looks at the plan constructively and seizes the chance to end the war.” 

He added that Hamas needed to reach an internal consensus with other Palestinian factions in Gaza before issuing an official response. “We and Egypt explained to Hamas during yesterday’s meeting that our main goal is to stop the war. Trump’s plan achieves the main goal of ending the war, though some issues in it need clarification and negotiation,” the Qatari prime minister said.

The proposal itself grants Hamas several key concessions, including the release of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a substantial increase in humanitarian aid. However, it also requires significant compromises.

The plan calls for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and, ultimately, for Hamas to completely disarm — a demand the group has consistently rejected. Adjustments to the timeline and conditions of Israel’s withdrawal, reportedly made at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have frustrated Arab officials and could prove difficult for Hamas to accept.

Despite these obstacles, Al Thani insisted on September 30 that Trump’s plan was “still at an early stage and needs development,” stressing the necessity of further negotiations to transform the principles into a workable agreement. Trump, however, has suggested that Washington’s flexibility is limited. “There isn’t much room” for renegotiation, he said.

US officials have indicated they are prepared to discuss clarifications or specific amendments requested by Hamas, but they do not intend to reopen the entire proposal for debate.

By Tamilla Hasanova